Disease Detectives

Welcome to Disease Detectives! In this event, participants will use their investigative skills in the scientific study of disease, injury, health, and disability in populations or groups of people.

The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2024 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence. This event is presented in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation.

Resources & Links 

• What You Need to Know About Infectious Disease - in this free e-book from National Academies Press you can learn about the biology, history, and future trends of some of the world's most widespread and harmful infections and explains what we need to do--as individuals and as a society--to address this global challenge. Written for a general audience, but drawing on reports of the Institute of Medicine this book provides an overview of infectious disease that may be useful to Disease Detectives everywhere.
  • What You Need to Know About Infectious Disease  companion website - delve further into the world of infectious disease at companion website developed by the National Academies to support the book of the same name. 
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemiology Glossary
• Internet Resources
• Food-Borne Illness Chart from the FDA
• Disease Detectives Background & Surveillance Notes
• Disease Detectives Outbreak Investigation Notes
• Disease Detectives Patterns, Control, and Prevention Notes
• CDC NERD Academy Materials, Videos & Resources 
  • CDC NERD Academy Curriculum (lesson plans, videos, activities) 
  • Workshop Recording - Explore Public Health with the CDC NERD Academy - an introduction to this new curriculum!
• World Health Organization 2nd Edition Online Textbook - Basic Epidemiology
• CDC Website on Environmental Health
• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
• Epiville (Outbreak Simulation Columbia University)
• Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice

Science Olympiad Store Materials

• New! 2024 Disease Detectives Starter Pack
• 2023 National Test Packet
• 2022 National Test Packet
• 2021 National Test Packet
• 2020 National Test Packet

Practice Problems & Tests

• Practice Test - 2023 Sierra Vista Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 University of Michigan Invitational
• Practice Test - 2023 University of Chicago Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Rickards Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 Highlands Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 BullSO Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 National Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UChicago Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 Troy High School Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO Invitational
• 2020 Sample Test
• 2019 Sample Test 
• 2018 Sample Test
• 2017 Sample Test
• Sample Disease Detective Test & Key - Division B
• Elementary Sample Exam/Answers 2011

Event Supervisor Resources 

In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Disease Detective Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:

• Event Logistics Manual 

Career Connections 

• Center for Disease Control - Career Pathways to Public Health
• STEM Session on Epidemiology (2020)
• STEM Session on Epidemiology (2021)
• Health Science Career Cluster Information
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook: Epidemiologists
• CareerOneStop - Epidemiologist